Fire protective installation



May 8, 1934. E. TYDEN FIRE PROTECTIVE INSTALLATION Filed July 5, 1933 '2 Sheets-Sheet l T) I P Jnz/e 222224 fizz Z 70, 620

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' May 8, 1934. T EN FIRE PROTECTIVE INSTALLATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1933 Inz/ezzfor. [722 @Z 7 Patented May 8, 1934 STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved the protective installation comprising in the protected area a closed head system whether of the wet pipe or dry pipe type, and an empty- .pipe system, whether of the closed-head or openhead type, the connection between the operating water supply and pressure connections for the two systems adapted to cause the opening of a normally closed water discharge head of the closed head system to cause the opening of the water supply controlling valve of the empty-pipe system, and the consequent charging of the normally empty-pipe or" that system with water under supply pressure.

A further purpose of this invention is to provide in an installation adapted for the first defined purpose, means for putting the emptypipe system in operation independently of the opening of the normally closed heads in the closed-head system when the fire danger in the area protected by the empty-pipe system is developed before such danger is developed in the area protected by the closed-head system tothe degree causing the opening of -a closed-head of the latter system.

Other minor or incidental purposes of the invention are defined in the following specification.

The invention consists in the elements and features or" construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partly sectional diagrammatic view of an installation embodying the invention in which the closed head system is of the wetpipe type, the water supply controlling valve device of both systems being shown in vertical section.

Figure 2 is a similar view of an installation in which the closed head system is of the dry pipe type, the dry pipe main valve being shown partly in vertical section.

Figure 3 is a detail section at the line 3-3 on Figure 1.

It will be understood bythose familiar with the art that the closed head wet pipe system is set up by admitting the water from a source of water under pressure to the system by setting the shutoff valve in the supply pipe slightlyopen until the system is filled up to the closed heads except as to the space which will be occupied by the original air content of the pipe compressed to the de ree of the supply pressure, so that the pressure in the system will be substantially the Water supply pressure holding the mainwater supply valve seated so long as the sprinkler heads remain closed.

And it will be understood by those familiar with the art that the closed head dry pipe system .is, set up by connecting the discharge delivery pipe line witha source of compressed air which occupies the system up to the closed heads under pressure suincientto hold the main'water controlling valve seated so long as the sprinkler heads of the system remain closed.

And these familiar features and characteristics of closed head wet pipe and dry pipesystems are to beunderstood as present in the systems, shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively in conventional form withoutspecifically showing the sources 01?;70 water pressure or compressed air.

Referring to the drawings in detail: Atarea indicated in general :at A, there is shown .a closed-head sprinkler system indicated by the pipe lines, 20, with water discharge heads, 57,5 -21.

At an area indicated in general atB, there is shown asprinkler head system of the character commonly called an empty-pipe system indicated by pipe line,,30, and water discharge heads,

31, which latter may he understod to be either 580 specification, designates any sprinkler system. ar-

ranged. tohave the pipes leading to: the sprinkler heads normally empty of water and occupied by .air whether at atmospheric or super-atmospheric pressure, and to which pipes water is admitted by means operating automatically under fire hazard s conditions arising in the area protected by said system. C in Figure l and 0 in Figure 2,;indicate in totality the water supply controlling valve device of the closed-head system. D indicates in totality the water supply controlling valve device 195 of an empty-pipe system. The water main pipe supplying both systems is indicated at E, and may be understood as leading from any available source of water under pressure. The main water supply valve devices, C andD, are shown coupled to the .100 water main, E, by a three-way pipe coupling, .F, of which the horizontal limb, I is connected to a horizontally extending pipe, 33, having at its opposite ends an upturned elbow, 3e, for connection with the valve, D, by a pipe member, 35, in which there is interposed a coupling, .36, equipped with a shut-off valve, 37. Saidvalvedevicc, D, is thus positioned similar to the valve devices, C and O which latter valve devices in Figure l andFigure v2, respectively, are mounted on the upwardly .ex- 0 tending limb, F, of said three-way coupling, F, with interposed pipe coupling, G, equipped with shut-off valve, G The detail construction of the dry pipe main valve device, C, in Figure 2 is shown in conventional form, the main valve member being indicated as to its entirety at c. The central water inlet port is seen at 40*; the concentric inner and outer valve seats are seen at 1 and 41 respectively; and the interseat chamber is seen at 41 The body of the valve device, C, of Figure 1 comprises a base, C having the intake port and valve seat and a second discharge and valve seat hereinafter described, said valve device being of the familiar form commonly called alarm valve because of having connection for operating an alarm as indicated conventionally at M, and which may be utilized for that purpose in the present installation, if desired, without interfer ing with the function for which such connection is primarily utilized in the present installation as hereinafter described.

The water supply intake port of the valve device, C, and encompassing valve seats are indicated at 40, and 41, respectively. The discharge to the closed head system is seen at 42, and the second discharge referred to above constitutes the alarm valve connection as seen at 43, with encompassing valve seat, 44, situated laterally of the intake port and valve seat, 41. The water controlling valve, C, is shown pivoted at the side of the intake port and valve seat, 41, opposite the second discharge and valve seat, 44, and said valve, C, carries at the side opposite its pivotal mounting a valve, 46, for controlling the second discharge port, 43.

The valve device, D, which controls the water supply to the empty-pipe system consists of a body member having flow passage extending through it terminating for pipe connection at the lower side in the threaded boss, 51, for connecting with the upturned elbow, 34, and thus with the water main, E, and at the upper side a threaded boss, 52, for connection with the pipe line, 30, leading to the empty-pipe system. The flow passage through the body member, 50, of the valve device, D, comprises the axial passages through the bosses, 51 and 52, a deflected passage, 53, which by-passes a partitioning web, 54, between the central part, 55, of said flow passage and said deflected portion, 53, and a port, 56, in

said partitioning web, which port is encompassed at the side toward said deflected passage by a seat, 56 for the valve element, d, of the valve device, D, which is introduced through an openingindicated by the removable plug, 57pr0- vided for that purpose at the opposite side of the deflected portion, 53, of the flow passage from the port, 56.

At the opposite side of the central portion, 55, from the port, 56, the body member, 50, has guide bearing, 58, for the stem, d of the valve, (1, which stem protrudes through said guide bearing and is furnished at the outer side of the web of the body member in which the guide bearing is formed with a coil spring, 59, reacting between said web and a cap nut applied to the end of the stem, for holding the valve normally seated at its seat on the outer side of the partitioning web, 54, where the supply pressure will operate for holding it seated.

At the side of the valve body member, 50, op-

.posite that having the aperture through which the valve is introduced, it is formed with a circular flange, 60, encompassing a concavity, 61, in

that side of the valve body, said flange serving for seating a flexible diaphragm, 62, which is clamped to its seat on said flange by a cap member, 63, which is formed with a concavity, 64, and an annular marginal flange, 63 mating and registering with the concavity and annular seat of the diaphragm on the flange, 60, of the valve body, and serving for clamping the diaphragm to said seat, as indicated by the clamping screws, 65.

The cap, 63, is formed at the center of the concavity mentioned for connection with one end of a slender pipe member, 70, of which the other end is connected to the body member, C of the valve device, C, of the closed head system, said connection being made at the second discharge, 43; and said pipe member, '70, thus serves for communicating pressure from the valve device, C, to the diaphragm, 60, when the valve, 46, controlling said second discharge, 43, is opened, which, as hereinafter described, is when the valve element, C, of the valve device, C, is operated by the water supply pressure upon the opening of a normally closed head of the closed head system venting and relieving the pressure in the delivery line of that system.

Upon consideration of the structure as thus far described it will be readily understood that the installation being set up in the usual manner of setting up a closed-head system by opening the shut-off valve controlling the admission of water to the system after the discharge heads are all adjusted in closed condition, the pressure in the closed-head system and the delivery line thereof becoming substantially the supply pressure, operates to seat and hold seated the valve element, c, of the valve device, C, and the valve, 46, which controls the second discharge, 43, of said valve device. Also the admission of the water to the valve device, D, operates directly to hold securely seated the valve element, d, excluding the water from the empty-pipe system. And it will be recognized that upon the opening of water discharge heads of the closed-head system, as by fusion of the discharge head seals due to fire heat in the protected area, the relief of pressure in the delivery line comprising the entire flow passage from the intake valve, 0, of the valve device, C, to the opened discharge heads, permits the valve, 0, to be opened by the supply pressure. And it will be understood that the opening movement of the valve, 0, carrying the valve, 46, to open position, admits the water supply pressure to the line, 70, and to the diaphragm, 62; and the supply pressure operating on said diaphragm causes it to open the valve, d, of the valve device, D, admitting the supply pressure to the empty pipe system. And when said emptypipe system is an open-head system, the water will be discharged at the open heads substantially simultaneously with the discharge from the fused, and thereby opened discharge heads, of the closed-head system.

And if the empty-pipe system is a closed-head system, the water admitted, as described, occupying the pipe line of the system up to the discharge heads (except for the small amount of air which will be compressed in the pipe by the water pressure) will be ready for instant discharge when by the occurrence of the fire heat the closed heads of the empty-pipe system are opened by fusion.

To provide for putting the empty-pipe system into operation without delaying for the fusion and opening of any of the normally closed water discharge heads of the closed-head system, as may be necessary when the fire heat is developed in the area of the empty-pipe system, sooner or more rapidly in the area of the closed-head system, there is provided a pipe line, '75, connected with the pipe line, and with any source of pressure, as the deli ery line of the closedhead system as indicated at 20 whether that be a dry-pipe or a wet-pipe system; and pressure now through the line, '7 5, is controlled by a valve,

'76, interposed in the line and operatively associated with the temperature-responsive device, indicated at 80, which is located in position to experience fire heat in the area protected by the empty-pipe system. This temperature-responsive device may be of any familiar type and with any familiar form and arrangement of operating connection with the valve, '75. The drawings may be understood as showing a construction of temperature-responsive device and valve and connections of the type shown in Patent No. 1,914,233, issued June 13, 1933, and further detail description is judged unnecessary.

Upon considering this construction it will be seen that regardless of the opening of water discharge heads of the closed head system, the opening of the valve, 76, by the temperature-respom sive device, 80, admitting pressure from the selected pressure source to the diaphragm, 62, will cause the admission of water to the empty-pipe system, and if that be an open-head system, will cause immediate discharge of water from the open heads or" that system; and if it be a closedhead system, will cause the pipe line of the system to be occupied with water under pressure ready for instant discharge when any or the closed heads are opened by fusion.

When the closed-h ad system is of the dry-pipe type, and the connection for pressure subject to control by the temperature-responsive device, 80, for operating the diaphragm, 62, is made to the air pressure region of the system, advantage may be taken of such connection to connect also with the inter-seat chamber of the dry-pipe main valve for oflsetting the pressure above the main valve by the same pressure below it over the interseat area, and by this familiar method, commonly known as acceleration, causing the main valve of the closed-head dry-pipe system to be opened, admitting water to the pipe lines of that system at the same time that water is admitted to the empty-pipe system. Such construction is shown in Figure 2, in which the pipe, 82, is seen branched from the pipe, 79, or the pipe, '75, (at the junction of said pipes) and leading to the inter-seat chamber of the dry-pipe main valve, as indicated at 83.

I claim:

1. A fire protective installation comprising a closed-head system having normally closed water discharge heads adapted to be opened by the water pressure under temperature conditions involving fire hazard in an area to be protected by said system; a main water supply pipe leading from a source of water under pressure; a valve device having its intake connected with said supply pipe and having discharge flow connection constituting together with the valve chamber of said valve device, a water delivery line to the closed head system, said valve device having its valve element seating against the supply pressure; an empty-pipe system; a water supply line thereto from a source of Water under pressure; a valve device interposed in said water supply line having its valve element arranged to be to said pressure-responsive means for the delivery line of the closed-head system, and a valve controlling access of pressure to said flow pressure connection from said delivery line arranged to be seated by the pressure in said delivery line due to the water discharge heads being closed and operatively connected With the valve element of the first mentioned valve device for being opened by the opening movement of the latter; whereby upon the opening of a normally closed water discharge head in the closed head system, relieving the pressure the closed head system delivery line and causing the water supply valve to be opened, said pressure-responsive device is operated by the supply pressure for admitting the Water to the empty-pipe system.

2. A fire protective installation comprising a closed-head system having normally closed water discharge heads adapted to be opened by the water pressure under temperature conditions involving fire hazard in the apartment protected by said system; a main water supply pipe leading from a source of water under pressure; a main water supply valve device having its intake connected with said water supply pipe; a water delivery pipe line leading from the main discharge of said valve device to the closed-head system, said valve device having a main valve seating against the supply pressure, said valve device having a second discharge; an empty-pipe system; a water delivery line leading thereto from the water source; a valve device in said water delivery line having its valve element arranged to open against the supply pressure; a pressure-responsive element operatively associated with said valve for opening the latter against the supply pressure; a pressure flow connection from the second discharge or" the first mentioned valve device to said pressure-responsive element; a valve in the first mentioned valve device operatively associated with the main valve of said device for being seated and opened by the seating and opening of said main valve; whereby said pressure-responsive element is operated for opening the water-controlling valve of the empty-pipe system when the valve of the first mentioned valve device is caused to open by the relief of pressure in the closed head system delivery line due to the opening of a closed head.

3. In combination with the construction defined in claim 1, a pressure flow conduit leading from a source of pressure and connected with the flow pressure connection from the closed-head system delivery line to the pressure-responsive means which controls the opening of the water-controlling valve of the empty-pipe system; a valve controlling pressure flow through said pressure flow conduit, and a temperature-responsive device exposed to the temperature of an area to be protected by said system operatively associated with said valve for open ng the same upon predetermined temperature conditions affecting said ternperature-responsive device; whereby the empty-pipe system is put into operation either by the opening of a closed head in the closedhead system or by the operation of said temperature-responsive device.

l. The construction defined in claim 1, the empty-pipe system being an open-head system.

5. In combination with the construction defined in claim 1, a pressure flow conduit leading from a source of pressure and connected with the flow pressure connection from the closed-head system delivery line to the pressure-responsive means which controls the opening of the watercontrolling valve of the empty-pipe system; a valve controlling pressure flow through said pressure flow conduit, and a temperature-responsive device exposed to the temperature of an area to be protected by said system operatively associated with said valve for opening the same upon predetermined temperature conditions affecting said temperature-responsive device; whereby the empty-pipe system is put into operation either by the opening of a closed head in the closed head system or by the operation of said temperatureresponsive device, the closed-head system being a dry-pipe system having a main water supply controlling valve device of the type containing an inter-seat chamber, the pressure flow conduit which is controlled by the temperature-responsive device being constructed for communicating pressure to the inter-seat chamber of the dry-pipe valve.

6. In combination with the construction defined in claim 1, a pressure fiow conduit leading from a source of pressure and connected with the flow pressure connection from the closed-head system delivery line to the pressure-responsive means which controls the opening of the watercontrolling valve of the empty-pipe system; a valve controlling pressure fiow through said pressure flow conduit, and a temperature-responsive device exposed to the temperature of an area to be protected by said system operatively associated with said valve for opening the same upon predetermined temperature conditions affecting said temperature-responsive device; whereby the empty-pipe system is put into operation either by the opening of a closed head in the closedhead system or by the operation of said temperature-responsive device, the closed-head system being a dry-pipe system having a main water supply controlling valve device of the type containing an inter-seat chamber, the pressure flow conduit which is controlled by the temperature-responsive device being constructed for deriving pressure from the air pressure region of the dry-pipe system and connected for communicating pressure to the inter-seat chamber of the dry-pipe valve, whereby the water-controlling valve of the closed-head system is caused to open regardless of the opening of the normally closed discharge heads of the system.

EMIL TYDEN. 

